PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence men’s hockey team scored twice in under three minutes early in the third period to edge Maine 3-2 and spoil the Black Bears’ Hockey East opener Friday at Schneider Arena.

Drew Brown scored from the left circle 2:56 into the third to give the Friars (2-2-1, 1-1 Hockey East) a 2-1 edge.

Steven McParland put in a rebound of a shot taken by Brown at 5:03 for a 3-1 lead.

Maine (1-5, 0-1) scored on a power-play at 8:24 of the first when Connor Leen slammed home the rebound of Ben Hutton’s shot.

Providence tied it on a power-play goal by John Gilmour with 1:54 left in the period.

The Black Bears pulled to within one at 8:38 of the third period. Mike Cornell fired a shot from the point that got behind goalie Jon Gillies who was screened on the play.

Gillies, a freshman from South Portland, finished with 27 saves. Martin Ouellette stopped 24 shots for Maine.

The teams will play again at 7 p.m. on Saturday.